University of Miami
The first comprehensive study using AGRRA was conducted along Andros Island, Bahamas. The Andros Reef Complex is one of the longest reef systems in the Western Atlantic with few anthropogenic impacts because of its remoteness and low population. The purpose was to determine the condition of this Reef Complex with a one-time assessment. A team of six scientists surveyed 70 reef sites along the 150-km reef tract during four weeks of fieldwork during 1997 and 1998. Over 7000 individual reef building corals and 2500 algal quadrats were examined and 400 fish belt transects were conducted.
The surveys revealed low to moderate partial coral mortality with patchy occurrences of recent mortality caused by coral disease outbreaks and bleaching during 1998. Of particular interest are the extensive thickets of the elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, found to be in good condition and localized areas of luxuriant fore reef carpets with high coral cover. Macroalgal cover was low to moderate and the abundance of herbivorous fish and commercially significant fish (e.g., grouper) was high. Overall, this assessment revealed the Andros Reef Complex is in good condition and has few signs of degradation or significant overfishing.
1997 Survey Team
Philip Kramer, Patricia Kramer, Ken Marks, Chris Peters, Steve Lutz, and
Tim Turnbull.
1998 Survey Team
Philip Kramer, Patricia Kramer, Vladimir Kosmynin, Bernhard Riegl, Jerone
Kenter, Ken Marks, Tim Turnbull, and Eleanor Phillips.
National Geographic's Committee for Research and Exploration, Hachette Filipacchi Foundation, AGRRA, RSMAS/Univ. of Miami, Bahamas Reef Environmental and Education Foundaiton (BREEF), Carolina Skiffs, Go Native Yacht Charters, The Captains' Lady and Steve Cawthon, and Small Hope Bay Lodge.
For more information, contact AGRRA .
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